2016 Short Course World Championships – Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 4×50 MEDLEY RELAY – PRELIMS

  • 2014 World Champion – Denmark, 1:44.04 WR
  • World Record – Denmark, 1:44.04, 2014
  • Championship Record – Denmark, 1:44.04, 2014

Top 8:

1. CAN, 1:45.49
2. USA, 1:45.67
3. DEN, 1:47.05
4. ITA, 1:47.10
5. RUS, 1:47.28
6. JPN, 1:47.69
7. CHN, 1:48.17
8. AUS, 1:48.45

The morning predicts a two-team race for tonight, with a tight battle expected between Canada and the U.S. America’s Ali DeLoof, who is having the international meet of her life after big performances yesterday in the individual 100m back semi and women’s 4×100 relay, kicked off the American squad today with a mighty 26.57 opening 50m back. That ranks DeLoof as the 3rd-fastest American performer ever in the women’s 50m backstroke, sitting only behind Olivia Smoliga and Felicia Lee.

But, Canada’s Kylie Masse threw down a monster opening split of her own, touching in 26.67. That mark is just .02 of a second off of her own national record, which sits at 26.65 from February of this year. Look for her to bust out another fast mark tonight in the women’s 100m backstroke individual race, where she ranks as the top seed with the home Canadian crowd behind her.

Molly Hannis kept the stars n’ stripes’ speed going with her split of 29.48, the fastest breaststroke leg of the top 8 squads by .40 of a second. However, teen phenom and 2016 Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak stepped things up a notch for the Canadians come the 3rd leg, firing off a 25.42 split, followed by a strong anchor by Michelle Williams. Williams notched a split of 23.52, which would end up being the quickest of all top 8 relay contenders. Look for these two squads to go head-to-head right next to one another in tonight’s final.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • 2014 World Champion – Chad Le Clos (RSA), 1:41.45
  • World Record – Paul Biedermann (GER), 1:39.37, 2009
  • Championship Record – Ryan Lochte (USA), 1:41.08, 2010

Top 8:

1. Carter (TRI), 1:42.90
2. Krasnykh (RUS), 1:43.08
3. Brown (RSA), 1:43.50
4. Koski (FIN), 1:43.68
5. Nielsen (DEN), 1:43.98 (tied)
6. Le Clos (RSA), 1:43.98 (tied)
7. Park (KOR), 1:44.09
8. Smith (AUS), 1:44.20

The usual suspects of Park Tae-Hwan of Korea, last night’s 400m freestyle victor, and Chad Le Clos of South Africa, the reigning short course world champion, did their thing this morning in Windsor to make the final. But it was Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter who really made his mark in the morning session, cranking out a super swift time of 1:42.90 for the top seed. That establishes a new personal best for the 20-yr-old and smashes T&T’s national record. The time also sits just outside the world’s top 5 so far this season.

2016-2017 SCM Men 200 FREE

DominikHUN
KOZMA
08/07
1.41.03
1Taw Hwan
PARK
KOR1.41.0312/07
3Kacper
MAJCHRZAK
POL1.41.6208/07
4Chad
LE CLOS
RSA1.41.6512/07
5Aleksandr
KRASNYKH
RUS1.41.9512/07
View Top 26»

Le Clos’ teammate Myles Brown is headed to tonight’s final, as is Denmark’s Anders Nielsen, the latter of whom made it all the way from heat 1 (of 10) as he was entered with ‘no time’. Matias Koski of Finland’s 1:43.68 from heat 7 crushed his pervious personal best of 1:46.98 and now checks in as the fastest Finnish 200 scm time ever.

For the first race so far in Windsor, a final will be American-less, as Zane Grothe (1:44.53) and Reed Malone (1:46.58) finished 13th and 35th, respectively.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • 2014 World Champion – Femke Heemskerk (NED), 51.37, CR
  • World Record – Cate Campbell (AUS), 50.91, 2015
  • Championship Record – Femke Heemskerk (NED), 51.37

Top 8 (of 16):

1. Oleksiak (CAN), 52.36
2. Elmslie (AUS), 52.72
3. Kromowidjojo (NED), 52.75
4. Mainville (CAN), 52.97
5. Pellegrini (ITA), 53.05
6. Zhu (CHN), 53.06
7. Ottesen (DEN), 53.14
8. Ikee (JPN), 53.17

Canada’s Olympic gold medalist Penny Oleksiak continues to put on a show for the home crowd, claiming the top seed this morning in the women’s 100m freestyle. While fighting her way to the finish ahead of the Netherlands’ 2012 Olympic champion in the LCM version of this event, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, in the final heat, Oleksiak stopped the clock at 52.36 for a shiny new Canadian National Record. The teen is looking for some redemption after her would-be medal-winning 4x100m freestyle relay squad last night was disqualified for athletes swimming out of order.

Kromowidjojo looked smooth and controlled after firing off the blocks first, as is customary for the thoroughbred. Kromo clocked 52.75 for the 3rd seed behind Australia’s Brittany Elmslie, who touched in 52.72 for the first sub-53-second performance of the morning.

Last night’s 200m freestyle stunner, Federica Pellegrini of Italy is also slotted for the top 8, producing a solid 5th seed of 53.05. She holds a personal best of 52.17 set just this April in Riccione. 16-year-old teen phenom from Japan, who holds her nation’s record in the LCM of this event, snatched up the 8th seed in 53.17. Ikee is currently ranked 5th fastest in the world with her Tokyo World Cup time of 52.39, so her making the top 8 is no fluke.

Americans Amanda Weir (53.43) and Madison Kennedy (53.73) also made tonight’s semi-final finishing in 10th and 14th places, respectively.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY  – PRELIMS

Top 8 (of 16):

1. Shields (USA), 50.03
2. Josa (USA) 50.51
3. Le Clos (RSA), 50.52
4. Morgan (AUS), 50.58
5. Barrett (GBR), 50.63
6. Stravius (FRA), 50.70
7. Pakhomov (RUS), 50.84
8. Kawamoto (JPN), 50.89

The top 10 athletes all scored sub-51-second times as a testament to how tight this men’s 100m butterfly field is. However, the morning saw two Americans break through to the top of the pack courtesy of Tom Shields and Matthew Josa. Shields already ranks as the fastest American ever in this event, having clocked a 48.63 at last year’s Duel in the Pool. He looked entirely on form this morning, stretching those arms out in front and killing his underwaters as usual. 50.03 was the result for the former Cal Bear and 2016 Olympian.

Josa also hit the water hard this morning to notch a 2nd seed behind Shields. 50.51 is what Jose scored this morning, splitting 23.32/27.19. His entry time was 50.21 and with this event having 3 rounds, look for the new Cal Bear to drop time come tonight’s final.

Both men will need to hold off ever-dangerous Chad Le Clos, however. The South African world record holder in this event did his usual look-around-type stroke, but one can’t deny it does him justice, touching in 50.52 for an easy 3rd seed. Also in the semi-final top 8 for tonight is Great Britain’s Adam Barrett, his nation’s record holder in this event. 50.63 is what he earned in heat 8, but he’s been as fast as 49.31 in just August of this year.

Chinese fly maestro Li Zhuaho and GBR’s Mark Szaranek also made tonight’s semi, with the latter clocking a new Scottish national record in the process. Japanese double bronze medalist from last night, however, Daiya Seto, finds himself as the 17th ranked swimmer and out of the next round.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

Top 8:

1. Worrell (USA), 2:03.94
2. Zhang (CHN), 2:05.40
3. Hosszu (HUN), 2:05.43
4. Eastin (USA), 2:05.53
5. Washer (AUS), 2:07.36
6. Savard (CAN), 2:07.54
7. Chimrova (RUS), 2:07.87
8. Nakano (JPN), 2:08.05

Well that was unexpected. At least as far as defending Short Course World Champion, current World Record Holder and 2016 LCM gold medalist in this event, Mireia Belmonte of Spain is concerned. The 26-year-old was a complete non-factor in the morning heats, finishing 19th in a time of 2:10.21 after having been entered with a 2:06.32. Update: Belmonte was listed to swim the 800m freestyle later in this session, an event in which she holds the championship and world record but she was a no-show.

Instead, it was America’s Kelsi Worrell who went full throttle this morning in the women’s 200m butterfly, stopping the clock at 2:03.94 to become the 3rd-fastest American performer ever in the event. Worrell looked strong and beastly underwater, and was able to snag the only sub-2:05 time of the morning.

Gunning for another gold, however, will be Hungarian Katinka Hosszu, continuing with her monster event schedule by snatching up the 4th seed in 2:05.83. She missed out on gold in the women’s 200m freestyle last night and will be looking for another top prize to add to her potentially historic medal haul here in Windsor. However, she 100 backstroke final on her plate later in the evening.

Home nation Canada has a horse in the race with Katerine Savard, the 6th seeded swimmer. She registered a time of 2:07.54, quick enough to contend for a minor medal in tonight’s final.

MIXED 4×50 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

  • 2014 World Champion – USA, 1:28.57, WR, CR
  • World Record – USA, 1:28.57, 2014
  • Championship Record – USA, 1:28.57, 2014

Top 8:

1. NED, 1:31.30
2. RUS, 1:31.39
3. FRA, 1:31.43
4. BLR, 1:31.82
5. FIN, 1:32.03
6. JPN, 1:32.05
7. CAN, 1:32.46
8. HUN, 1:32.58

The Dutch foursome of Jesse Puts, Nyls Korstanje, Kim Busch and Tamara Van Vliet combined to earn the quickest mixed 4x50m freestyle relay time of the morning in 1:31.30. Puts, the newly-minted national record holder in the 50m freestyle, cranked out a swift 21.41 opening split, a mark only met by Hungary’s Maksim Lobanovskii. The remaining members of the Dutch squad were able to hold off Russia, who wound up touching in their heat just .09 behind in 1:31.39.

Finland’s Ari-Pekka Liukkonen can be credited with the fastest split of the entire field, stopping the clock at 21.09 for his 2nd leg. Finland qualified 5th.

However, as in the men’s 200m freestyle individual event, America will not be represented in the final of this race in tonight’s session. The combination of Dillon Virva (21.68), Michael Andrew (21.44), Madison Kennedy (24.63) and Amanda Weir (25.19) found themselves clocking an overall time of 1:32.94 and in 11th place, out of the final.

As a note, every major national player in the event stacked their mixed relay as M, M, W, W.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

Top 8:

1. Smith (USA), 8:07.67
2. Twichell (USA), 8:16.08
3. Melverton (AUS), 8:23.51
4. Anderson (CAN), 8:24.65
5. Hosszu (HUN), 8:25.00
6. Rignatiello (ARG), 8:25.05
7. Zhang (CHN), 8:25.33
8. Titmus (AUS), 8:25.85

The women’s 800m freestyle heats was entirely the Leah Smith show, as the American trounced the entire field with her incredible time of 8:07.67. Headed into this meet, the Olympic bronze medalist in the women’s 400m freestyle had an 800 scm best time of 8:10.03 from last year’s Duel in the Pool. But the Virginia athlete crushed that mark, as well as the American Record of 8:08.00 held by Kate Ziegler since 2007. As such, Smith now checks in as the fastest American female ever in this event and looks to claim gold in the final tomorrow night.

After a disappointing outing in the women’s 200m butterfly, Spaniard’s world record holder Mireia Belmonte was a no-show in heat 3 of this event, having confirmed to her swimming federation she is sick. Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu made the final, as did Smith’s teammate Ashley Twichell. 2016 Open Water gold medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal fell just sort winding up in 9th place.

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PVSFree
7 years ago

Nyls Korstanje is only 16 or 17, he’s one to watch for in the future. Already a great sprinter for the Dutch

dru
7 years ago

after that relay split, wish worrell would have swam the 100 free

nuotofan
7 years ago

Ikee (sublime swimmer) swam 52.16 (from eight lane) in yesterday 4×100 free relay lead-off for japan.

Uberfan
7 years ago

Remember ranomi recently tied her short course world record in the 50 free, she’s got this

taa
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

And Cate Cambell set a 100fr world record a month before the Olympics

G Lee
7 years ago

It’s a really hard pill to swallow when there are no Americans in the men’s 200 free and women’s 100 free. Its just plain strange

Rachel
Reply to  G Lee
7 years ago

There are Americans in the women’s 100 free, there are semis for that event. They might not make finals, but Americans tend to pull through. The men’s 200 free is annoying, though.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Rachel
7 years ago

U got no Haas , Rooney or Dwyer swimming …….lets not forget that .

Paul
Reply to  G Lee
7 years ago

If this wasn’t during final exams a lot of the top NCAA swimmers would be here absolutely dominating. If this wasn’t in such a short turnaround period from the Olympics, a lot of the top Olympians would be here.

For the most part we’re running with a USA B-Team. We even have two high-schoolers there. The fact that we are leading in medals and winning relays is a true testament to the depth of swimming in the U.S. We should see this as a great opportunity for these truly elite swimmers to compete against the worlds best.

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

While some of the athletes here are B-team material a la Kelsi Worell and Tom Shields, most are C/D team which is fine. This is exactly what it is for Team USA, another meet, and most importantly experience for some fresh face National team members.

Paul
Reply to  AvidSwimFan
7 years ago

Shields and Worrell are Olympic Gold Medalists. Even if it was from relay prelims, its very hard to call that B-Team.

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

Right. But their gold medals were from swimming prelims in the 400medal relay hence the B-team title. Considering the transition in team USA, they might very well A-team now.

I was just pointing out that most of the athletes competing in Windsor are relatively inexperienced internationally so we should lower our expectations while still being supportive.

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Out of topic but yesterday someone wanted a comparison between Michael Phelps’s best SCM and LCM times.

100 free
SCM 46.99 in 2009
LCM 47.51 in 2008

200 free
SCM 1.42.78 in 2006
LCM 1.42.96 in 2008

200 back
SCM 1.50.34 in 2011
LCM 1.54.65 in 2007

100 fly
SCM 50.46 in 2009
LCM 49.82 in 2009

200 fly
SCM 1.52.27 in 2003
LCM 1.51.51 in 2009

200 IM
SCM 1.51.89 in 2011
LCM 1.54.16 in 2011

400 IM
SCM 4.01.49 in 2011
LCM 4.03.85 in 2008

Tm71
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

MP never took short course seriously, in fact he never competed in this meet

Uberfan
Reply to  Tm71
7 years ago

2004 Indianapolis world champ 200 free

Bigly
Reply to  Tm71
7 years ago

He didn’t take it seriously because he didn’t swim NCAAs and he delivered at the Olympics. He’s the only one of the U.S. swimmers who could be considered “legends” (Schollander, Spitz, Hall, Biondi, Lochte, Peirsol, etc. on the men’s side, Thompson, Torres, Caulkins et al on the women’s side) who did not take the “small pool” seriously. In fact, of the top 15 Olympic gold medal male swimmers, MP may be the only one not to take the “small pool” seriously (Roland Matthes may be the only other exception).

If you take MP out of the equation as the ridiculous outlier that he was, I’d argue that both pools contributed to the legends of these other people. All of… Read more »

Paul
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

What’s surprising is that he does a good chunk of training in Short Course Yards to maintain stroke form and work turns. Just never tapered for short course since he went Pro back in 2001. He could’ve been an absolute monster in the short course, because when he did hop in with at least a suit he would put up the occasional american record or world-best time. Seeing that his 3 main individual events had better times in LCM than SCM makes you want to speculate even more as to just how crazy fast he could’ve been.

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Michael Phelps’ best SCM and LCM times
It just shows without surprise that MP has never focused on short course.
Legends are made in the big pool.

Michael
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

THAT WAS ME BOBO! LOL I almost “BOBO get on that for me please”! This makes me happy!

completelyconquered
Reply to  Michael
7 years ago

Seems like you’re lazy to me. Just sayin

Bigly
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

It would have been great to see what MP could’ve done with backstroke if he had focused on it.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

I seem to recall MP swimming a 53.01 LCM 100 back when the WR was only 52.98 some years ago.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
7 years ago
G Lee
7 years ago

The American relay times would have been great if were swimming LCM.

bobo gigi
Reply to  G Lee
7 years ago

Who really cares about mixed relays?

Paul
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

The swimmers on them. The coaches. Anyone not completely stuck in the inability to accept change.

swimnerd
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

Your right Bobo Gigi, no one does. I’d much rather see a 200 free/ medley relay at long course world championships than see 2 women and 2 men swim together in a summer league type event

swimnerd
Reply to  swimnerd
7 years ago

*you’re

Michael
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

Good split for M.A. though. Far better than his 200 IM. I think we may all be realizing the limitations of USRPT…although I also think he just plan went out too fast, survived the breast and died in the free. His 200’s are actually very very solid SCY so I would think SCM should at least be within the same realm of speed…and that 200 IM wasn’t.

PVSFree
Reply to  Michael
7 years ago

There are different types of USRPT. You can adapt USRPT for distance, MA just uses it for sprinting. USRPT is not the problem

Klorn8d
Reply to  G Lee
7 years ago

Except for the women at least it wouldn’t have been good for them even

taa
Reply to  G Lee
7 years ago

It was the safe reaction times that cost them making the final. Its not like we have any of our top sprinters here. I do think it may be time for Amanda Weir to retire but I guess the clock will let us know if thats the case

AvidSwimFan
7 years ago

Leah Smith is crushing the 800 free prelims.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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